Bengaluru, Mar 9 : Congress leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday called Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat’s statement on Mekedatu as politically motivated to make inroads into Tamil Nadu and an attempt to mislead Karnataka people. Siddaramaiah is referring to Shekhawat’s February 5 statement saying that the Centre is ready to facilitate talks between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the Mekedatu reservoir project, and hoped that they resolved the matter as Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh did. “This statement is politically motivated to make inroads to Tamil Nadu and an attempt to mislead people of Karnataka. We strongly object and condemn this statement made by the minister against the interests of Karnataka,” he said in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The remarks passed by the minister have hurt the sentiments of people of Karnataka who are patiently waiting for the central government to give environmental clearance for the project, Siddaramaiah said. “We were hoping the ‘Double Engine’ government will add speed to the realisation of aspirations of people, but in reality both the engines have ceased to pull the State to a better place today,” he said. Karnataka has technical, moral and legal right to access excess water after releasing the rightful share of Tamil Nadu, Siddaramaiah said. About 60-70 TMC of excess water flows to Tamil Nadu every year from Cauvery basin in Karnataka, which otherwise, can be judiciously used to provide drinking water to Bengaluru and surrounding districts, he said. Mekedatu reservoir will serve the best purpose in storing this excess water and also generate 400 MW of electricity, Siddaramaiah said. “It has to be noted that Tamil Nadu is using the Cauvery issue just for political reasons,” he said. The population of Bengaluru has already crossed 1.5 crore and more than 3 crore people are in 12 districts where Cauvery water can be distributed, Siddaramaiah said. “Only 30% of people in Bengaluru have access to Cauvery water. Bengaluru, though has one of the highest contributions to growth of our Country, is reeling under stress for drinking water,” he said. Siddaramaiah said Mekedatu reservoir can address the challenges Karnataka is facing to ensure smooth distribution of water to Bengaluru region for next 50 years. Karnataka government has sent 2 DPRs to the central government for approval, and unfortunately the state is still waiting for the environmental clearance, he said. Injustice from the central and state governments is not new when it comes to irrigation and drinking water projects, Siddaramaiah said. Though legally resolved, the Mahadayi project is yet to see the light and Mekedatu has become a political tool for BJP to influence the Tamil Nadu electorate,” he said. Yettinahole, Upper Bhadra and Upper Krishna projects are progressing at snail’s pace due to lack of adequate funds, Siddaramaiah said. “River linking project announced by your government is skewed to benefit only downstream Tamil Nadu. It is clear that your government at the centre has failed to grant necessary clearances and the state government has failed to enlighten the urgency of project,” he said. BDN SHK1807